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Operation Frankton
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posted by Vitaliy Deputat
A team of Royal Marines, Royal Air Force, and British Army retraced the famous Operation Frankton Commando Raid from WW2 on its 80th anniversary, in 2022. The group is called Cockleshell 22, raising funds for charity, and raising awareness of epic historical feats of military endurance.
Operation Frankton, 1942
Operation Frankton was a 1942 commando raid on ships in Germany-occupied Bordeaux, France. The Germans used the port in Bordeaux to transport a large volume of goods to support their war efforts.
A small team of British Royal Marines used folding kayaks, transported by submarine to carry out the mission. The Operation’s Commander, Herbert ‘Blondie’ Hasler, built his first canoe as a child and was an avid sailor. It was his idea to use a collapsible two-person kayak/canoe to silently attack enemy ships while they were still in harbour.
Ten men paddled by night to Bordeaux and launched limpet mines to attack German ships. They managed to sink two ships, severely damaging two and minorly damaging two more. Only two men survived the operation—six were captured and executed by the Germans and two died from hypothermia. The operatives are proudly called “Cockleshell Heroes” to this day.
Winston Churchill said the mission shortened the war by six months. The Special Boat Service (SBS) branch of the Royal Navy was established as a result of this mission.
Operation Frankton Kayaks, 1942
In 1942, they used “Cockle” Mark II kayaks. It was a semi-rigid two-person kayak with canvas sides, a flat bottom, and 15 feet long. When collapsed, the kayaks fit well on the narrow submarine. When expanded, they held two men, weapons, safety equipment, paddles, rations, and water comfortably, fitting a total of 480lb of safe load.
Cockleshell 22, 2022
The team of active and ex-force British Army servicemen retraced the kayaking route of the Cockleshell Heroes and raised money for three Armed Forces charities.
The participants kayaked 80 miles and hiked 100 miles across France to reach Bordeaux.
The team paddled overnight for five nights, just like the operatives did in 1942. They began in Stockport, trained in Exmouth and Angelsey, then went to Bordeaux where they visited the Operation’s memorial, then kayaked to the lighthouse where two operatives were captured, and then kayaked to the Bordeaux Port, before exiting the water and hiking.
Cockleshell 22 Kayaks
In 2022, the team used Neris collapsible kayaks, similar in specs to the “Cockle” Mark II kayaks used in the WW2 mission but allowing for significantly more cargo space and modern features.
Neris is a Ukrainian brand of folding kayaks that come packed in a backpack, established in 1999 and available in Europe and North America. Neris manufactures high-quality water equipment, including single-, double- and triple-seater kayaks, folding kayaks, and hybrid kayaks.
Neris Kayak Canada
Set off on the boating adventure of your dreams with Neris foldable kayaks, now for the first time in Canada! Enjoy the beautiful lakes and rivers Canada has to offer with this compact and durable kayak.
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